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Are you part of the NICU club? Do you have a child who is still struggling with the effects of being born too soon from preeclampsia? Share your concerns and stories here among parents who have been there.

I just joined this forum and this is my first post. When I think back to last September, I shudder. Both my daughter and I are lucky to be alive. My daughter, Hannah, was delivered by section on September 12/03 due to my severe PE. She was 27 gestational weeks and weighed 1 pound 7 ounces at birth. She spent 2 months in a Level 3 nursery an hour away from our home and 1 month in our local hospital, which is a Level 2 nursery. Miraculously, Hannah has been healthy and for most of her NICU stay was only on a feeding and growing program.

Now, at 2 months CA, she is 9 pounds 16 ounces and behaves like a typical preemie (from what I have read). She is very easily overstimulated so we have to be careful to read her signals. I don't want to say she is tempermental but she does have her days. She is a bit behind developmentally for her CA but everyday we work on exercises we learned in physio. However, she is beautiful, the love of our lives and every time she laughs my heart feels like it might explode.

I look forward to meeting other preemie moms and hearing your stories.

I hate to be exclusive, but I would really like to get to know some of you out there with micro preemies. I had a 25 weeker on 1/20/03 due to severe PE. He was IUGR weighing 1lb 3ozs. He had what I feel was a typical micro preemie NICU stay with 12 blood transfusions, 3 staph infections, intubated for 10 weeks (maybe a little long), CLD, endocriditis (not common at all), pulmunary stenosis (probaly not that common), jaundice, Stage 3 ROP (now resolved, yeah!) the list goes on.

Max is coming up on his first birthday and I feel we have challenges that not all other preemies have, but probably what a lot of other micro-preemies have. He is still small, his motor skills are delayed (just hitting 6 month milestones), and he HATES his bottle (ok with pureed foods though). On the positive side, he is health, his pulmonary stenosis has improved, he loves his naps and sleeping (always has) and he is an extremly good natured happy baby (all of the NICU nurses told us micro-preemies are very tempremental, so we brought him home and waited for him to change, but he never did [:D])

I would love to hear some of your stories and especially some of your challenges and how you managed through them.
Thanks!

My baby, Ethan, was born at 28 weeks two years ago in May. I had pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized for five weeks prior to his birth. He ended up being on oxygen for his first year of life. He is doing pretty well now, but still weighs just 17 pounds. His weight and feeding issues seem to be our biggest struggles. I have an inner conflict about how grateful I am for his life and how much I wish he was a "normal" two-year-old.
I am unexpectedly pregnant again (while using birth control) and terrified. I cried for three days straight after I found out. I had hoped that I wouldn't get pre-e again, but after looking in this forum, I realize that my chances are good that I will. We have three older children (including Ethan) and I have no idea how we'll take care of them if I am hospitalized again. Sigh.
It's wonderful to find women out there who truly understand my daily struggles!

My name is Teresa and our baby, Emma Rose, was born 9/25/02. She was a 25 weeker and her weight was 1 lb 1 1/2 oz and 11 1/2 inches long. (She went under a pound at one point) Emma was in the NICU for 117 days, on the vent for 7 weeks, 9 transfusions, 3 head US, infections, ROP-Stage 2, Zone 2, etc. Emma Rose is nearsited and needs to wear glasses, but I have a hard time keeping them on her.

Emma Rose is now 16 months old (12 1/2 months adjusted)and doing great. She is walking and making vowel sounds. She says Da-Da,
Na-Na, etc. She is still small (17 lbs).

My husband and I would love to have another child but I am too scared. The fear holds me back. After Emma Rose was born, I was tested for blood disorders and I found out I have Factor 5 and MTHFR.

I just wanted to say that I know exactly what you went through. I still do not think I am over what happen. I worry everyday about something.....RSV, Talking, Seeing, etc.

Hi My name is Wendy and Iam 10 weeks pregnant already Hypertensive bp on meds 156/104 very scared this is my third child.
My first child Zac was born at 24 weeks went down to 1 lb 10 onces due to PE unaware until my second pregnancy. Zac is my miracle baby. He has mild Cerebal Palsey that effects the muscles on his right side. He is so brillant and we are so fortunate. Please pray for me Iam very scared this time . With blurred vision already and terrible headaches aswell as last week I went in with severe bleeding that no one can seem to give me any answers .I had great doctors in MI for the first two pregnancys but have since moved glad I found this forum thanx for listening my emotions are so wacked I just need somebody that understands ( my husband is still after twice is still clueless but tries)

quote:Originally posted by Maxs MomI also want to recommend a book to you. I got it later when Max was in the NICU and I wish I had it sooner. It's called "Preemies, The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies".

I agree! The NICU had a copy that they let us borrow. I read it from cover to cover.

Bhargavi,
Congratulations on your little girl! Hang in there. The NICU can be a harrowing experience, but try and take the good and forget the bad.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. If you ever have even the slightest question, feel free to write here.

I also want to recommend a book to you. I got it later when Max was in the NICU and I wish I had it sooner. It's called "Preemies, The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies". Order it on Amazon, it should arrive in 4 or 5 days.

Again, Congratulations and good luck! I am glad to hear Karuna is doing well!